The camp of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday described as lacking in truth and wisdom Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia’s claim that the Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss her from government service was connected to her “vigorous and active role” in the impeachment proceeding.

“To set the record straight, the Chief Justice has nothing to do with the Ombudsman’s decision. Rep. Garcia was sacked from office for her questionable purchase of a P98.9-million underwater property when she was governor of Cebu without the authority of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. She misused public funds to buy a property submerged in the sea. These are the facts of the case and these were the bases of the Ombudsman’s decision,” Sereno’s camp said in a statement.

It added that the Office of the Ombudsman being an independent constitutional body has its own processes and it makes decisions free from outside control or influence.

“It is unfortunate that Rep. Garcia is using the ongoing impeachment hearing as an excuse, albeit shallow, for her dismissal from government service and perpetual disqualification from public office rather than check the laws of the land on graft and corruption.”

“That she is being singled out by the Ombudsman is totally untrue. The real tragedy lies on the refusal of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to enforce the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman against Rep. Garcia, who seems to be enjoying the special treatment of the House leader,” the camp continued.